Speakers

Emma Alberici

Business and Economic Commentator

Emma is a Principal Consultant at Derwent Executive Search, bringing more than 30 years experience as a journalist and communications professional. Reporting in Australia and as a foreign correspondent, she developed a wide network of relationships across the public and private sectors.

Kate Jenkins

Former Sex Discrimination Commissioner

Kate Jenkins AO is a renowned lawyer, leader and change maker. Kate is Chair of the Australian Sports Commission, and the Creative Workplaces Council. She is a former human rights and sex discrimination commissioner, and is recognised for spearheading some of Australia’s leading reviews, reports and reforms for equality. Kate is Australia’s foremost authority on respect and equality in the workplace.

Stan Grant

Renowned Australian journalist

Stan Grant is a renowned journalist, author, moral philosopher, thinker, film maker and communicator. He has had a groundbreaking four-decade career as one of Australia’s most awarded journalists. A Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi and Dharrawal man, Stan has blazed a trail for First Nations journalists. In a career of firsts he was the first Indigenous Political Correspondent, the first Indigenous Foreign Correspondent and the first Indigenous person to present a prime time commercial television news and current affairs program.

Magda Szubankski

Actor and advocate

Magda is an Australian actress, comedian, and writer, known for her roles in Kath and Kim, Babe and Fast Forward. She is also an advocate for LGBTIQ+ rights and played a crucial role in the 2017 Same-Sex Marriage Survey. Magda has received numerous awards, including the Victorian Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership and the Voltaire Award. She is also a best-selling author, with her memoir Reckoning winning several literary awards.

Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM

Doctor, lawyer and disability advocate

Dr. Dinesh Palipana OAM is a doctor, lawyer, disability advocate, and researcher. He was the first quadriplegic medical intern in Queensland and the second person to graduate medical school with quadriplegia in Australia. He works in the emergency department at the Gold Coast University Hospital and is a senior lecturer at Griffith University. He has received numerous awards and honours, including the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2019.

Osher Günsberg

Media personality, Conference Dinner speaker

Osher Günsberg is easily one of Australia’s most recognisable media personalities. From his radio career in Brisbane, to music television in the 2000’s, host of the original Australian Idol, The Bachelor franchise and The Masked Singer - Osher has been a guest in Australian living rooms across generations. He’s one of Australia’s leading podcasters, and an in-demand speaker who is a passionate advocate for positive conversations around mental health and climate action.

Kirk Docker

Interviewer and storyteller

Kirk is one of Australia’s finest interviewers and storytellers. He is the co-creator and director of ABC program You Can’t Ask That, now in its seventh season. Kirk’s interviewees range from ex-politicians to ice users to sexual assault survivors. He has a deep curiosity, compassion and playfulness that elicits honesty from his participants, many of whom have never sat in front of a camera before.

Marie Boland

CEO Safe Work Australia

Prior to becoming Safe Work Australia’s CEO in November 2023, Marie’s work health and safety experience spans many roles, including reviews of the Federal Safety Commissioner, WHS Prosecutions in the ACT, and the model WHS laws. She also conducted an independent review of the South Australian local government sector's WHS Management System and was the Inaugural Thinker in Residence at the University of South Australia's Psychosocial Safety Climate Global Observatory.